Born in Bad Gandersheim (near Göttingen) in 1979, Reentko first took guitar lessons at the age of 7 – this despite the fact that he had actually wanted to take drum lessons. In 2000 he moved to Dresden to study “Guitar/World Music” under Prof. Thomas Fellow. 2007 saw him become one of Fellow’s fellow lecturer. Many of the performers he now plays with are musicians he met during his studies, a period during which he came into contact with jazz, flamenco and music from outside of Europe. He also spent half a year in Jerusalem in order to become more acquainted with the region’s Arab music.
Reentko’s characteristic inquisitiveness, flexibility and willingness to submerge himself – often at very short notice – in new musical projects provide him with the ability to perform with a wide spectrum of ensembles and musicians from a variety of different backgrounds. Some of his projects have also received awards: the guitar duo “Dirks und Wirtz” took home the Special Prize at the “2006 1st European Guitar Awards”, whilst the “Annamateur und die Außensaiter” ensemble were awarded the Chanson/Music/Songwriting Prize at the 2008 German Cabaret Awards. Performances have so far taken Reentko Dirks to the Semper Opera House in Dresden, various European concert halls and as far away as China.

“Reentko is a wonderful musician, and a real joy to anyone given the opportunity to engage in a musical project with him. His creativity and range of expression are highly inspirational and captivating.
For me, however, it is the remarkable way in which he strikes a perfect balance between action and reaction that is of particular note. He always gives himself completely to the achievement of this balance, yet never loses track of the intentions of the ensemble members around him. And such an ability is rare, very rare.”

Thomas Fellow